Cherokee County residents can honor the nation's veterans by attending events ranging from parades and ceremonies to pow wows and golf tournaments.

The slew of events begin Saturday and continue through Veterans Day on Wednesday and into next weekend.

Holly Springs resident Denver Peardon will share his collection of military artifacts with the public at The Lodge at BridgeMill at 10451 Bells Ferry Road in Canton.

The Greatest Generation's History Preservation display will feature artifacts from World War II and Vietnam. The museum-like display will be exhibited from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Admission is free.

The display will feature hand-built replicas of battleships, letters and dresses women wore during wartime.

"It's a way to honor our veterans at the Lodge and to honor the veterans in the community," said Allison Chandler, activity director at the senior apartment complex.

Peardon said he has more than 1,000 artifacts from World War II and between 50 and 60 homefront items from the era.

His son Caleb, a 12-year-old student at Freedom Middle School, has between 150 and 200 items from the Vietnam War he will put on display.

Peardon said the exhibit will pay tribute to veterans and teach the community's younger residents about the sacrifices made to keep the country safe.

"We try and educate the community with every display," Peardon said.

Canton's American Legion Post 45 will present its Annual Veterans Day Parade through the downtown square at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The parade will begin at the Auto Zone on Waleska Street and march in a loop down East Main Street and back up North Street.

The Georgia National Guard Armory, Sequoyah and Creekview High school marching bands, local Junior ROTC units and The King's Academy drum line will march in the parade. Some groups, such as the Sons of the American Revolution, will have parade floats.

Post Adjunct Thomas Kaiser said the post's Junior Auxiliary, made up of girls 18 years or younger who are daughters of veterans, will pass out candy to parade spectators.

On Wednesday, Post 45 will honor veterans with a ceremony at its hall at 160 McClure St. in Canton. The program, which begins at 10:55 a.m., will feature a posting of colors and Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Frank Mills as the guest speaker.

Mills will talk about his military career and his involvement in the community. Lunch will be served after the program.

The third annual BridgeMill Veterans Charity Golf Tournament is Saturday at the BridgeMill Athletic Club in Canton.

The format is a four-way scramble (best ball), and entry fees are $100 per player. There will be helicopter jumps and rides, military and public safety vehicle tours, special veteran guests, a silent auction of golf and military memorabilia and goodie bags for players.

The tournament benefits the VFW Post 12002 Operation Santa Program. The program provides comfortable clothing and quilts adapted to accommodate special needs of amputees and other injured soldiers recovering in U.S. military hospitals stateside and overseas.

For information or to make a donation, call Christian Stevens at (770) 331-6120.

Canton First United Methodist Church will line its driveway with American flags to honor surviving and deceased veterans.

The flags, which are available for $35 and can honor a specific veteran, also will surround the parking lot and the church, said Don Stafford, the church's director of music.

Stafford, who said the display initially was done at the church on Independence Day and Memorial Day, said he's expecting to have as many as 150 flags.

At 11 a.m. on Sunday, the church will have a special service honoring veterans who served in the five branches of the military with a rendition of "Salute to the Armed Forces."

"It's just to say thank you and to salute those people ... who've served," Stafford said, adding the tributes are meaningful to the families of veterans.

To purchase a flag to honor a veteran, contact Stafford at the church at (770) 479-8714.

The Falany Performing Arts Center on Monday will be filled with the sound of patriotic music during a free concert.

The Air National Guard Band of the South will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the center on the Reinhardt College campus in Waleska.

Under the direction of Captain Alan B. McConnell, the band will play a variety of music from Sousa marches to Broadway tunes.

Tickets are not required. For information, call (770) 720-9167.

The City of Woodstock and American Legion Post 316 will present their annual candlelight ceremony at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Woodstock City Park.

John Newport of the Woodstock chapter of the Marine Corps League will be the guest speaker.

The Woodstock Police Department's Color Guard and Etowah High School's Junior ROTC Program also will participate, and the King's Academy choral group will provide music.

The legion will present five representatives of each military branch with a Legion Blue Star Banner and a challenge coin.

The Cherokee County Salute To Our Veterans Inc. will hold its third annual dinner to honor the county's veterans.

The event is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the BridgeMill Athletic Club.

Founder Lori Pesta said the event will feature a candlelight ceremony, and 15 World War II veterans from the Cameron Hall Assisted Living Center are the dinner's honored guests.

Mary Kessner, founder of the America's Adopt A Soldier Program, will be the guest speaker.

Reservations are required to attend the dinner, and tickets are $20. They can be purchased at www.salutetoourveterans.com. For information, call Mrs. Pesta at (678) 520-2236.

Mrs. Pesta said the dinner is for "honoring our heroes that have kept us safe."

"We do this to bring them together in Cherokee County and to pay tribute to them," she added.

Rolling Thunder Enterprises will present its first National Veterans Pow Wow and Indian Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, in Canton's Boling Park.

The two-day festival, according to co-founder Chipa Wolfe, will honor the nation's veterans, including the country's Native Americans who have served in combat.

The festival will feature military displays, vehicles and artillery, educational programs, Native American arts, crafts and food, a grand entry with veterans representing all five military branches, a Native American salute to all veterans, a special honor song and dance by a Native American Color Guard, "Thunder" the Buffalo and Warriors on Horseback as well as buffalo soldiers, dances, activities for kids and teenagers, story tellers and music.

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 15. Tickets for adults are $9, $5 for kids ages 6 to 18 and free for kids 5 and younger. Veterans who appear in uniform or have a valid military identification will be admitted for free. For information, call Wolfe at (678) 234-8719.

Wolfe said he hopes residents will learn more about Native American culture and military service through the event.

"They have also paid an enormous amount of contributions and sacrifices for this country," he said of Native American veterans. "It's going to be a unique opportunity and a unique experience."